Firebirds saga: Netball Australia says door open for dialogue after Kamo, Wallam, vent fury at probe
The investigation is closed but Netball Australia says dialogue is open with player representatives after former Firebirds vented their fury at the results of a probe into the culture at the club.
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The investigation may be closed but Netball Australia says dialogue remains open with player representatives after former Queensland Firebirds athletes vented their fury at the results of a probe into the culture of the Super Netball club.
Former Firebirds defender Remi Kamo - who has publicly identified herself as the complainant, alleging a toxic culture at Netball Queensland (owner of the Firebirds franchise) - was scathing of the finding that no policies had been breached, saying there was a “silencing culture” in the sport, “while the people benefiting from the silence stay in their positions of power and control the narrative”.
But NA will not be releasing a confidential report into alleged breaches of its Code of Conduct and Member Protection Policy by NQ and members of its staff, saying parties had taken part in the probe on the condition of anonymity.
Speaking at the launch of the Super Netball season in Sydney on Thursday, NA chair Liz Ellis and CEO Stacey West said being able to make full and frank disclosures anonymously had been a key reason several respondents had agreed to take part in the investigation.
“We knew that the information and the matter was really sensitive and what Netball Australia was at pains to do was to ensure that it was a third-party independent person who actually conducted the investigation,” Ellis said.
“There are a number of parties across the ecosystem who were involved and the reality is, there was comfort for them that they could be involved because it was going to be kept confidential.
“The confidentiality is pretty tight but that doesn’t mean we don’t go back and we don’t look at our processes and figure out a way to improve.”
Ellis said she could not comment on whether there was a culture issue at the Firebirds, who have rotated through several coaches and assistants, and their support staff over the past three years while the club’s powerbrokers remained.
“I only know what we know publicly and that doesn’t give me enough to be able to commit with any authority or knowledge on what the culture may or may not be,” Ellis said.
“All I can comment on is Netball Australia’s commitment to ensuring that everyone who participates in our game does so in a safe environment - and whatever it takes to get to that is what will be pursuing.
“The investigation is closed but the dialogue is open and I think the thing to keep in mind is that our relationship with ANPA (Australian Netball Players Association) is a good, honest one so Stacey (West) is speaking to (ANPA CEO) Kathryn (Harby-Williams) often and I’m speaking to Helen Lonsdale, the chair, often.
“We are committed to working with them to make sure that every club has a culture that fits a professional organisation and they’ve got a really important role to play in that.”
West said it was important to acknowledge in investigation process was a sensitive matter.
“And we do genuinely take these moments to care for all participants in our game - and that is extended to all that we’re participating with in the investigation,” she said.
Acknowledging the hurt of Kamo, who has Maori heritage, and that of another former Firebird, Noongar Aboriginal woman Donnell Wallam, who has spoke of Kamo having the “strength, courage and resilience some can only dream of” following the decision, West said when any players in the NA system spoke out, the organisation would “absolutely listen”.
“It’s important that we continually evolve our processes to ensure that happens through our game,” West said.
“What I also want to ensure is that we work at a really deep level around education, both into our SSN (Super Netball) teams, and also to our organisation. So we really focus on that continued learning and that shared listening and learning and response.
“That’s the commitment that we make.”
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Originally published as Firebirds saga: Netball Australia says door open for dialogue after Kamo, Wallam, vent fury at probe
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